Freedom – African Roots Podcast

Welcome back to this week’s episode of the African Roots Podcast. You can always reach me HERE.

Well–summer is settling in and today I embrace summer and its beauty and warmth, but am a bit reflective today. We have things to celebrate, for we are at the end of a full year’s campaign to get the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau indexed completely. This began last year with the kick-off that started in California a year ago, and we are now near the end with 98 % of the records now indexed. Hopefully within the next several days we will get the word that records will be fully searchable and ready for genealogists to fully examine. This is truly something to celebrate. The spirit of Freedom is something that everyone in the human family can appreciate, and we are grateful to our ancestors for what they did and how they were resilient against incredible odds.

********************************************************************************************************
I am busy preparing for tomorrow, for I shall be attending a Juneteenth event in Upper Marlboro Maryland as well. The Prince George’s County AAHGS is collaborating with the Historical Society of the county to host the Juneteenth celebration at the Watkins Nature Center.

The event is free and a wonderful family-friendly event, so bring the children and come and celebrate. There will be genealogy presentations from 10:30 till 4 pm, and I look forward to being one of the presenters.

Juneteenth celebrations are unfolding from coast to coast and from Texas to the Canadian border, so I hope that you will be have a chance to participate in the events in your own local community. Freedom belongs to everyone and let us embrace it.

*********************************************************************************************************

As joyous as the season of freedom is, today is also a sad day. What a difference a year makes, or better said, what a difference it does not make. This time last year, we mourned the death of 9 people in Charleston who were murdered in their church as they attended a bible study class. Today–a year after Charleston, we now add a new city to our list–Orlando. We mourn with that city as 49 innocent lives were taken by another “crazed” gunman. We thought we learned and grew from Charleston, but then again—we now face another season of tears. There are no words to express the sorrow and pain, and only time will truly heal the immediate pain felt by the families and friends.

There are no words, only prayers that can be offered, and perhaps our only response is to remember and to write about our own response to these trying times. In addition to last year in Charleston, and this year in Orlando, we continue life against a backdrop of hatred and vitriol on the political landscape, and head towards a campaign season that promises to be anger filled and bitter.

There are lessons from Charleston, and Orlando, but in the days that immediately follow they cannot be found. The pain and shock are too close to us.

So some of us can turn to the lessons of the ancestors, who 150 years ago found joy with freedom, but who faced incredible resistance during the years that followed. Their newfound freedom was ignored by many, and by many who had the power to still continue to oppress them. Indeed, they were bittersweet times, and today these are bittersweet times.

We must talk about them, write about them and leave lessons for those who follow us. Get the thoughts on paper and in those journals and diaries for those who follow. The strength that we show will be needed in the future.

Today is yes, a pensive day for me, and a reflective time. I embrace the spirit of freedom, but still feel for Orlando and still feel for Charleston, against a hostile political climate.

Let’s tell the story of these times, as well, as we move to a better future. Let’s remember in the meantime to keep researching, keep documenting, and keep sharing what you find.

Welcome back to the African Roots Podcast! You can reach me at AfricanRootsPodcast.

Well we have had a week throughout the country with some serious weather. We in the mid-Atlantic are buried on tons of snow. Yesterday I hope was the final hurrah of winter, when it snowed and snowed the entire day. So today is a day of digging out completely! I hope that you are all safe and warm and dry. The task at hand besides digging out–is to write it down and tell this year’s weather story.

*****************************************************************************************

******************************************************************************************
In the meantime–genealogy does go on. Coming up next week in Charleston SC. The Avery Research Center is hosting a lecture by Dr. Leslie Harris, March 12 at 6pm. Dr. Harris will discuss the book, “Slavery and Freedom in Savannah”. The event will provide an opportunity for discussion and to look at Freedom and how it came to the Low Country.

******************************************************************************************

Out west in California, in Sacramento, the 10th African American Family History Seminar. This will occur next Saturday March 14 and the Family Research Center. The special keynote speaker is Tony Burrough and a large number of topics are covered. Common Names, Native American Research, the Freedmen’s Bureau, DNA, and a Beginners class, and so much more! This will take place from 8 to 4, an all day event. I always enjoy showing support for so many groups that are out there!

This being March, I invite people in Maryland to attend an all-day program for Native American research. I will present 4 workshops all day at the SE Anchor Branch of the Enoch Pratt Library. I will be presenting resources for general research, blended families and 10th and 20th century records, so I hope that you will join me on that day.

******************************************************************************************

I was so happy to see an event that will honor a much admired researcher, Dr. Ira Berlin. We appreciate the work of historians and depend upon their work to gain knowledge of the area, and the people who interest us. Well, coming up in April, at the University of Maryland, College Park, a two day event will honor the legacy and scholarship of Dr. Ira Berlin. This conference will be at the McKeldin Library.
*****************************************************************************************

I saw a posting from a blogger this week who decided to create something called the Slave Name Roll Project. It began in February and the creator has decided to share data, and sort it by place of origin. It is wonderful to see what is shared. Thankfully many more people are willing to share this data which can be found in private collections, or a unique record set. The blog is called Tangled Roots and Trees, where Family and History Come Together. I am not sure who the owner is—can’t find the name of the contributor, but I am still happy to say thank you!
******************************************************************************************

Article Here

I was excited to see info from the Family Search blog. Top African American genealogy resources. Congratulations to all of those websites and blogs that were mentioned.
******************************************************************************************

This is March, which is also Women’s History Month. This is the time to honor the many women in the family. We know that for many, the pulse of the family revolves around many of the women, the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and the female nurturers in the household. This is the time to perhaps honor those women in the family around whom many heartwarming stories revolve.
*****************************************************************************************

Last night’s episode of Bernice Bennett’s show. Her guest was Antoinette Harrell, who spoke about the genealogical value of Civil Rights records. We don’t know that there are many records that reflect our history as well. We are all survivors of their efforts, and the many indignities that they endured. Explore those records as you weave the family story. Bernice Bennett’s show can be heard every Thursday evening on Blog Talk Radio. The show can be downloaded if you miss it last night.
******************************************************************************************

Also hats off to our friends in the Irish American community, as they celebrate Irish American heritage. Many of us in the African American community know that we have genetic European ties, and perhaps someday we may put energy into exploring this part of our past and may receive assistance to explore that par of our history as well.
******************************************************************************************

Stay warm this week and hope that you who have to dig out, will not exert yourselves too much and do stay safe while undertaking that enormous task. Thank you all for taking time to tune in, and please ave a good week of research.

In the meantime, the task continues, so please remember to keep researching, keep documenting and keep sharing what you find.

Tag: Freedom

African Roots Podcast Episode #376 June 17, 2016

African Roots Podcast Episode #309 March 6, 2015